Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-02-19


On her ride Belle was very quiet, and
entirely different from the gay girl
she had been some time before.
urged Madeline to go to Belle
and speak to her as sister, but she
declined. "No," she said, 81 know
Bellies spirit, and there would be
trouble. If there is to be quarrel 1
shall not begin it."
was determined to end this I'M
pleasant feeling, which, to me, was
almost as bad as quarrel. If the
thing were possible would put an
end to the young mans visits. /
could never have the same opinion
of Belle / had had before, but if this
impudentfellow could be kept away,
and Will Crenshaw should not come
back and attend to his business as an
earnest sutton ought, all might yet
end well.
And now, strange to say, l began
to long for the ghost, whose coming
had been promised. 1 had been con-
sidering what means / should take to
keep Bellies clandestine visitor away,
and had found the question rather a
difficult one to settle. / could not
shoot the man, and it would indeed
be difficult to prevent the meeting of
two young persons over whom / had
NO actual control. But happened
to think that if could get the aid of
the expected ghost the matter would
be easy. fit should be as accommo-
dating and obliging as the one who
had haunted the house before, it
would readily agree to forward the
fortunes of the family by assisting in
breaking up this unfortunate connec-
ton. If it would consent to be pres
ent at their interviews the affair was
settled. knew from personal ex-
perience that love-making in the
presence of a ghost was extremely
unpleasant, and in this case 1 believed
it would be impossible.
Every night, after the rest of the
household had gone to bed, ] wander
ed about the grounds, examining the
porches and the balconies, looking up
to the chimneys and the ornaments
on top of the house, hoping to see
that phantom, whose coming l had,
a short time before, anticipated with
such dissatisfaction and repugnance.
If l could even again meet the one
who was now serving in Russia, l
thought it would answer my purpose
as well.
On the third or fourth night after 1
had begun my nocturnal rounds,
encountered, on a path not very far
from the house, the young fellow
who had given us so much trouble.
My indignation at this impudent re-
appearance knew no bounds. The
moon was somewhat obscured by
fieecy clouds, but / could see that he
wore the same jaunty air, his hat
was cooked little more on one side,
he stood with his feet quite wide
apart, and in his hands, clasped be-
hind him, he held his riding whip.
1 stepped quickly toward him.
"Well, sir!" 1 exclaimed.
He did not seem at all startled.
"How dye do?" he said with lit
tie nod.
"How dare you, sir" 1 cried, Gin
trude yourself on my premises? This
is the second time have found you
here, and now / want you to under
stand that you are to get away from
here just as fast as you can; and il
you are ever caught again anywhere
on this estate, I'll have you treated
as tresspasser."
"Indeed," said he, 81 would be sor.
ry to put you to so much trouble
And now let me say that / have tried
to keep out of your way, but since
you have proved SO determined tC
make my acquaintance / thought
might as well come forward and dc
the sociable."
"None of your impertinence," ]
cried. "What brings you here, any,
way 2"
"Well," said he, with littlelaugh
eff you want to know 1 don't minc
telling you came to see Miss Belle
"You COMPOUNDED rascal !" 1 cried
raising my heavy stick. "Get out o
my sight, or l will break YOU
headn
alright" said he, "break awayr
And drawing himself up he gave
, his right boot a slap with his whip
The whip went entirely through
both legs! 1t was the ghost!
TIttorl1, aetoupdnd- T ctortad hool-